OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – As we speak lawmakers are addressing the large backlog for Oklahomans racing to get a Actual ID, creating complications and lengthy strains at DPS and tag companies. Now, they are saying they’ve obtained a plan to get again on observe.
“Nowadays, we are able to just about do something. We will fly folks to the moon. Now, we are able to ship issues to Mars. However we are able to’t go get a driver’s license renewed? I imply, it’s ridiculous,” mentioned Lindley Welch, who drove to a rural tag company to get a driver’s license.
Hundreds of Oklahomans are hitting a roadblock.
“At this level, there are such a lot of folks now that aren’t in compliance. We’re all driving round with expired licenses,” mentioned April Crutison, who says she remains to be ready to obtain her license she ordered on-line in March.
Senate Invoice 1057 was signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday, hoping to get the state again on observe.
“Right here we are actually with a problem earlier than us to deal with the backlog of the Actual IDs,” mentioned Rep. Dell Kerbs, R-Shawnee.
“It is a scenario the place Oklahomans deserve higher. We’re in a scenario the place because of the COVID disaster, on account of our incapability to supply sufficient techniques, sufficient software program, sufficient computer systems, to have the ability to deal with the demand for Actual ID,” mentioned Sen. Chuck Corridor, R-Perry.
That invoice provides Oklahomans the choice to increase their renewal license time from 4 years to eight years.
It should restore the 2023 finances cuts to the Division of Public Service bringing again extra license examiners.
It should present extra tools to tag companies to course of Actual IDs.
And Actual ID mega-centers are set to pop up in Oklahoma Metropolis and Tulsa this summer season.
“I spent 5 days going to all these little, small cities in Oklahoma, ready in line,” Welch mentioned.
“In some instances, Oklahomans are driving two hours to get an actual ID or get a schedule with a tag company,” Kerbs mentioned.
Corridor and Kerbs say these mega-centers will likely be modeled off of the COVID-19 vaccine pods, hoping to maintain folks within the metro from driving to rural tag companies.
However it’s not an answer for everybody, like Crutison, who says she has but to obtain her driver’s license she renewed on-line again in March, which she says she has already paid for, leaving her no alternative however to attend.
“I actually carry round my receipt and my expired license in order that if I have been ever ready the place I obtained pulled over, I’ve some sort of documentation that I’m conscious of it and I’m engaged on it,” Crutison mentioned.
Stitt’s workplace despatched us this assertion on Wednesday, saying the next:
“Senate Invoice 1057 is a wanted step towards making it simpler to get a REAL ID or driver’s license and the governor is continuous to work with state companies on extra options to repair the challenges Oklahomans are experiencing.”
CHARLIE HANNEMA, CHIEF OF COMMUNICATIONS
Legislators say the mega-centers will value $6.6 million to ascertain, however we’re informed it will likely be no extra value to Oklahomans.
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